Page 168 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

Black, savage beauty to rival the night itself as Kgosi flowed out of the misty trees in the wake of his mate, calling to her, and to us.

For one, blessed, shining moment, the world and all its pains disappeared.

And as I stood there, breathing in beauty and power and relief, I felt release. I let go of the events that almost killed me. Forgot the fears that wanted to steal my future, and the specter of shame that had haunted me.

Ruin was revealed for the monster he was, and would never return.

Carnage had been uncovered as a coward and a fiend, and the evidence of his duplicity still smoked in the bottom of this hole.

They would both be remembered, but only as a cautionary tale. And not by me.

With a small, shaky laugh, I let go of the creeping dread that had dragged at me. And for one, breathless, beautiful moment, I looked away from the elegant grace and power of the dragons, and up to my mate, who stared down at me, awe and concern chasing each other across his features.

“Little Flame,” he breathed, his eyes widening.

I smiled, but shakily. “What?”

“Your dragon name. Kgosi told me: They called you Little Flame, because a small flame can be blown out—or it can grow into a devastating fire.”

I shrugged, uncomfortable at his scrutiny, but reveling in it too.

‘My Little Flame,’ Akhane sent fondly, calling to me as she and Kgosi lumbered towards us through the hollow. For one still beat there was nothing in the world but the savage grace of a creature so ancient, it must know the face of God. And the love that creature offered me. Only me. No one else.

I shook my head and laughed shakily. “I don’t know about the devastating part,” I whispered.

“I do,” Donavyn said tenderly. And when I met his eyes, my heart swelled with the rush of love that reached me in the bond.

We met the dragons in the bowl of the hollow, ignoring the men who were working to remove the last of Carnage’s remains so they wouldn’t create an obstacle for landing or launching dragons. The men ducked their heads at me, and saluted Donavyn, their eyes curious—some a little wary. But no one commented on his grip on my hand, or my embrace of his arm.

They focused on the task set for them, while Donavyn and I reunited with our dragons and tried to convince our bodies that safety had returned.

I turned that thought over in my mind—had I ever felt safe before?

Then I looked up at Donavyn, and then at Akhane, and my heart said yes. Yes. I knew what safety felt like, now.

And for the rest… well… Little Flame indeed.

I grinned.

“Sir! Donavyn!”

We both looked up to find Olve trotting down the side of the launch hollow nearest the stable. The man was older than Donavyn, but still vital. He made it to us quickly. Kgosi snorted, and I couldn’t help agreeing with him that I’d hoped for a little more time before duty called again, but Donavyn clasped the Captain’s arm and asked for a report.

He still didn’t let me go.

Olve gave one, mildly surprised glance at where I hugged Donavyn’s arm, then returned his gaze to my mate and didn’t waver.

“The wild ones are… agitated. I called Barak and he’s here—they’ve sent some unbonded dragons into the sky to see if they’ll open up. But it’s clear they don’t want to be here.”

“Kgosi told them they can stay, but they don’t have to,” Donavyn rumbled. I felt the vibration in his chest against my arm and it made me shiver in a delicious way.

Olve nodded. “Yes, we’re aware. Only… they seem confused.”

Donavyn sighed and glanced up at the sky where the forms of the hundreds of dragons were more easily visible now with the sky lightening from gray to pink behind them. “They have been… woefully mistreated,” Donavyn said sadly. “Once this ground is clear and safe, we’ll need to bring all the Officers together so I can explain what’s been—”

A shrill whistle of alert broke through the sky, somewhere to the nearby south, and the dragons wheeling above all began to flap and turn, calling to each other—and to whomever had whistled.

Donavyn frowned at the sky. Olve shaded his eyes as if he might see more easily, despite the low light, but it was Kgosi who turned bodily, his head lifting to his full height, and wings rustling.